It
is interesting to note that the Governor House, Lahore, had been built around
the tomb of one Muhammad Qasim Khan constructed during the Mughal period; who
is said to be a maternal cousin of the Mughal emperor Akbar. Four doorways
enclose the two-story tomb and to the north, there is a stairway which leads up.
The original tomb with the grave underneath is still present at the spot. The
tomb has four doorways and a stair-case on the northern side to go up. Since
long, four columns have been erected in the interior and a mid-roof lay, so
that the tomb has become two- storied. On the east of it lies the ruined Dalan
of Kishan Singh. There are twelve arched niches in bricks on the outside and
four doors in the interior with eight mehrabi dar all round.

In the dome, there are four skylights. After the annexation
of the Province, the British purchased this building as well as the land around
it for a paltry sum of Rs. 2,500 for the construction of residence for the
Lieutenant- Governor of the Province. The mausoleum was kept intact but in
place of the rooms built by Khushhal Singh, a number of other rooms were added
on top of the square platform which existed all around the mausoleum.

This accounts for its height and the reason why the main
rooms have to be approached through a pair of curving grand stairs. Ever since
the foundation of Pakistan, the Governor of Punjab/ West Pakistan has his
residence and office in this building.